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How TikTok uses your phone number • How TikTok uses your email • How to set up 2-step verification • How to control whether TikTok can suggest your account to others using your phone contacts • How to control whether TikTok can suggest accounts to you using your phone contacts
How TikTok uses your phone number
Adding your phone number to your account helps improve your TikTok experience.
We may use your mobile phone number to:
• Help you log in to your TikTok account. If you forget your username, email, or the other login method you used to log into TikTok, you can look up all your login methods by entering the mobile phone number associated with your account on the account recovery screen. If you forget your password, you can also use your mobile phone number to reset your password.
• Strengthen your account security with two-step verification.
• Connect you with people you may know.
• Autofill your information when completing a form.
• Improve the ad experience for you and others. We may match your contact information with information we get from Advertising, Measurement, and Data Partners, such as when you make a purchase after seeing an ad on TikTok. This helps us show you personalized ads based on off-TikTok activity, depending on your settings, and improve our ad services for everyone within the TikTok community. Learn more about Ads and Your Data in the TikTok Safety Center.
Please note that:
• Your mobile phone number is not visible on your TikTok profile. You can change or remove your phone number at any time once you provide an alternative method of logging into your account.
• You can manage how we suggest your account to others, sync contacts, and more in your Privacy settings.
• We do not sell personal information, including your mobile phone number, to anyone. Learn more about how TikTok uses your phone number in our Privacy Policy.
How TikTok uses your email
Adding your email to your account helps improve your TikTok experience.
We may use your email to:
• Help you log in. If you forget your username, phone number, or the other login method you used to log into TikTok, you can look up all your login methods by entering the email associated with your account on the account recovery page. If you forget your password, you can also use your email to reset your password.
• Strengthen your account security with two-step verification.
• Connect you with people you may know.
• Improve the ad experience for you and others. We may match your contact information with information we get from Advertising, Measurement, and Data Partners, such as when you make a purchase after seeing an ad on TikTok. This helps us show you personalized ads based on off-TikTok activity, depending on your settings, and improve our ad services for everyone within the TikTok community. Learn more about Ads and Your Data in the TikTok Safety Center.
• Send you trending content, newsletters, promotions, recommendations, and account updates.
• Send you order updates, logistics updates, and refund status if TikTok Shop is available in your country.
Please note that:
• Your email is not visible on your TikTok profile. You can change or remove your email at any time once you provide an alternative method of logging into your account.
• We may receive your email if you choose to sync Facebook friends.
• We do not sell personal information, including your email, to anyone. Learn more about how TikTok uses your email in our Privacy Policy.
How to set up 2-step verification
You can set up 2-step verification (2SV) using your phone number. We strongly recommend turning on 2SV to further protect your account. This common account security feature adds an extra layer of protection to help us verify it's you if you log in from an unrecognized device. 2SV also provides an added layer of security to your account in case your password is compromised. Many people only have one layer (a password) to protect their account, but with 2SV, if someone obtains your password, they'll still need access to your phone or email address when attempting to log in to your account.
To turn on 2-step verification:
1. Check that you have the latest version of TikTok downloaded on your device.
2. Tap Profile at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the Menu button at the top.
4. Tap Settings and privacy.
5. Tap Security.
6. Tap 2-step verification and choose at least two verification methods:
༚ SMS (recommended)
༚ Email (recommended)
༚ Authenticator app (recommended). You'll need an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator installed on your device to use this option. Follow the instructions provided on the next screen to scan the QR code or copy the key provided. Enter the key on the authenticator app when you add an account for TikTok. Finally, enter the code provided by the authenticator app on the next screen in the TikTok app.
༚ Password
7. Tap Turn on to confirm.
8. If you choose SMS or Email:
༚ You'll be prompted to enter an email address and phone number if you haven't previously entered your contact information. Standard SMS fees may apply.
༚ Tap Send code and on the next screen, enter the verification code sent to you via SMS and email.
The next time you log in, you'll be prompted to enter a verification code which will be sent to your phone number or email, or can be found on your authenticator app, depending on the verification methods you selected. Enter the code into the 2-step verification prompt on your screen to confirm your identity.
How to control whether TikTok can suggest your account to your phone contacts
Your account may be suggested to others on TikTok if:
• You've added your phone number to your TikTok account.
• You turned on the Contacts setting in the Suggest your account to others privacy setting.
• The person we're suggesting your account to has chosen to sync their phone contacts to TikTok and your phone number is in their contacts.
Learn more about how your phone number is used to suggest your account to others.
To review and change your Contacts setting:
1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Tap the Menu button at the top.
3. Tap Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Privacy, then tap Suggest your account to others.
5. Turn the Contacts setting on or off.
How to control whether TikTok can suggest accounts to you using your phone contacts
We can help you find and follow people you may know if you've added your phone number and your phone contacts are synced. You can stop syncing at any time and remove any previously synced data from TikTok.
To review and change your Sync Contacts setting:
1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Tap the Menu button at the top.
3. Tap Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Privacy, then tap Sync contacts and Facebook friends.
5. Turn the Sync contacts setting on or off. You can also remove previously synced data.